Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The first chapter addresses the question: Why don't students like school? Willingham studies the question from a cognitive perspective. He contends that if a student does not or can not experience the pleasure of solving a problem, he/she will become disinterested in a class or school itself. The problem can be any aspect of an assignment or curriculum. Students must have the appropriate background knowledge so that they can understand the problem first and then use their working memory to solve it. As a teacher, one should start with the information you want the student to know by the end of the lesson. You need to think about what the key question for that lesson may be in a way that will respect the abilities of your students. If the question is too hard, a student may walk away frustrated. If it is too easy, another student may be too disinterested to bother. The lesson may have to be individualized or have the students grouped to ensure success.

Willingham suggests that teachers should pose a problem that the student will find interesting enough to want to find the answer. He also suggests that you ". . . use the technique not only at the beginning of a lesson but also after the basic concepts have been learned." Once the student has the background knowledge, the technique will lead him/her to experience the pleasure of solving the problem using their working memory. The science demonstration explained on page 21 is a good technique to use before, during, and after the lesson. I found this technique very interesting and I'm planning on using it in my language arts class when we read a novel set during World War II.

How could you change a lesson that you teach every year, or have already taught this year, so that you allow a student to use his/her working memory to solve a problem?

Monday, October 25, 2010

I chose this image because it shows just a bare and empty classroom. I think this type of environment does not benefit the student. The classroom needs to be more inviting and encouraging to students. Students want to learn but they need to be given the tools and skills necessary to be successful in school.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

I chose this picture because the girl looks so disengaged. I don't know why she is disengaged-is it the subject, the teacher, or what is going on in her life. It is very difficult to determine why some students are so disinterested in school.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

I chose this image as I think it shows how some students feel about school. It seems to them that they are always having the negative things about their school work pointed out and not feeling that the positive traits that they exhibit are noticed.